Strategic Commissioner - Looked After Children

Working closely with colleagues, partner agencies, parents/carers and children and young people, you will ensure the sufficiency of appropriate services and interventions across the age range for children and young people. In all areas of activity, you will adopt a strong partnership approach to ensure that outcomes for children, young people and families in the borough are improved.

Your next role

As a dynamic and influential commissioner, you will support the redesign and development of our commissioning functions in relation to high-quality services for children and young people who need residential accommodation and the necessary support to meet their needs.

You will contribute to both corporate and strategic planning and service transformation whilst providing leadership and management of the strategic change occurring across the children’s residential landscape.

You will be required to be a confident leader, with the ability to develop a strong vision in partnership other agencies and across the Council, you will have demonstrable experience of commissioning and a strong understanding of the children’s services agenda, and meeting the needs of vulnerable children and young people. 

You should have proven skills and experience in redesigning and commissioning services through working in partnerships and collaboratively with a range of stakeholders including residents. The successful candidate will be required to have the following skills:

• Good understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks relating to the commissioning of children’s services and residential placements.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work with a range of stakeholders using innovative techniques.
• Degree level qualification or equivalent with relevant working experience.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy – you should be financially literate and able to build business cases to deliver change and transformation.
• Have a proactive mindset and the ability manage a variety of priorities whilst meeting deadlines.

You must be fluent in the English language (as a requirement of Part 7 of the Immigration Act “for the effective performance of a customer-facing role”).

Your next package

Please see our Rewards and Benefits offer for more details.

As an employee, you will receive a diverse and exciting environment in which to work, encouraging creativity and innovation whilst recognising the need to support ongoing personal development and a flexible work life balance.

For Swindon to thrive in the future, we need to lay the foundations now. It’s why our regeneration and transformation programmes are already underway. So, you’ll be joining us at an exciting time on our journey. We’ll look to you to share your knowledge, influence decisions and drive real, positive change. With your contributions, we’ll achieve our vision of a prosperous, re-vitalised Swindon together. And you’ll be proud to say it was made better with you.

Please see our Vision and Values page for more details.

Please see our new Swindon Plan

Your next steps

As an inclusive employer, we welcome applications from a diverse range of communities, and in particular disabled people and people from ethnic minorities. Read our statement of commitment to equality & inclusion.

Read the role profile and select the Apply button where you will be redirected to the Swindon Borough Council website to complete our online application process. Clicking the ‘Apply’ button on this job website is not an application, you must register on the Swindon Borough Council website in order to be considered for the role.

For further information about the role please contact Dorne Kanareck, Head of Children’s Commissioning on dkanareck@swindon.gov.uk

If you are experiencing technical issues submitting your application please email resourcing@swindon.gov.uk